Earlier today there was a post about a dog surviving a police shootout in West Memphis, AR that occurred a couple of years ago. http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/1305946_West_memphis_shooting___how_did_the_dog_survive_.html

Here's some other information related to that same shooting.

On Monday of this week I had to show up at the Federal courthouse in Little Rock for jury duty.  About 80 people were called in for this trial so I figured that my chances to actually be seated on the jury were pretty small.  After orientation the jury pool was escorted to the courtroom.  The first order of business was to cull the 80 people down to 40.  As the names were drawn I was fourth on the list and seated in the jury booth just a few feet away from the prosecutors.

After the 40 names were drawn we learned a little bit about what the trial was about.  A West Memphis LEO was on trial for violating someones civil rights by choking him.  Lots of questions were directed to the potential jurors asking whether we had any good or bad impressions of LEOs and could we impartially rule on this case.  A couple of folks were removed at this time.

We then learned a bit more about the case.  It was involving a West Memphis LEO that chocked a person after that person made jokes and taunted the LEO about the two LEOs that had, at that time, recently been shot and killed.  Wow!  I know I must have grimaced a bit at that time.

Finally the questions from the judge and both sets of lawyers ended and a 20 minute break was called.  When we returned from the break the list of actual selected jurors was read out.  The first name called was the same person called during the selection of the original 40 people.  The second one called was again the second one originally selected.  Same for the third.  As each name was called they took their place back in the jury booth.  Well, having been the fourth person on the original list I was getting ready to stand up and move to my seat in the booth but a different name was called.  It was the fifth juror originally selected.  I was both surprised and glad.

I don't know for a fact why I wasn't selected when all the others were called in the original order.  My guess is that I really must have reacted (shown sympathy) when I learned what the circumstances were that caused the LEO to choke the victim.  Anyway, I was given my walking papers.

The trial lasted all week and just earlier today ended in a conviction for the officer.  Here is a link I left cold where you can read a little about the outcome.

http://www.fbi.gov/littlerock/press-releases/2012/west-memphis-police-department-officer-convicted-of-criminal-civil-rights-violation

I don't know all the facts and it could have turned out that I would have voted guilty.  Dunno.  What I do know is that I really felt for that LEO and had no problem considering him innocent at that time.  Maybe something in all the testimonies would have changed my mind.  I just don't know.  What I do know is that I still feel sorry for someone snapping when a person was joking and taunting about a couple of your friends that had just been killed.  Like it or not, LEOs are just as human as you or I.

As much as i may WANT to choke the shit out of people..i'm not allowed to do so except within very narrow parameters.....Someone making fun of another cop's death just doesnt fall into the window....the satisfaction of Choking out some mouthy douchebag doesn't outweigh the cost of the loss of my career however.

Good thing for the douche it wasn't the Chief.  His son was one of the dead officers.

The perp was in cuffs, sad way to end a career No matter what the circumstance you cant let them get under your skin.  

nvm, found some info to piece it together.

You know, there are other ways to handle that. Perhaps there were many opportunities to check one's brakes on the way to jail.

Slipping on a patch of ice in June.

Curb too high causing one to stumble.

I certainly agree that the officer should have kept his cool.  This has cost him his job as well as a good chunk of change and possible jail time.  However, I can also understand that he simply wanted to rip the dudes head off.  I know I would have wanted to.

You cops have a tough job.  I don't think I could put up with this shit and stay sane.

good choke.

I think you need to look into some things the chief told a person who son was killed about a year or so before his was killed.